Investment Q&A

Q: I like what Global X has to offer in their line of ETF's. However, I think I read one of your Q&A responses a couple months ago that their can be a concern with overloading the overall percentage of ones portfolio with a given ETF company. Did I understand that correctly? If so, just wondering what the potential consequences are in doing that, and if you do recommend spreading investments over a number of ETF companies.

Percentages are personal, but perhaps 5i has a ballpark-ish range that they would be comfortable with for a given ETF company (?)

Q: Hi 5i

https://www.globalx.ca/product/hxdm#facts

I've looked at the "at a glance" section of HXDM (link above). It has a MER of 0.22 a mangement fee of 0.20, a trading expense ratio of 0.30, and a swap fee of 0.30.

The ETF has been around since at least 2018. Looking back, can you tell me what owners of this ETF would have paid in fees 2019 - 2023? It's hard to know based on the information below:
11
Financial Highlights (continued)
Ratios and Supplemental Data
Year (1) 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Total net asset value (000’s) $ 394,907 259,253 227,812 569,390 102,401
Number of shares outstanding (000’s) 12,317 9,520 7,129 19,751 3,771
Management expense ratio (2) 0.22% 0.22% 0.22% 0.22% 0.22%
Management expense ratio before waivers and absorptions (2) 0.22% 0.22% 0.22% 0.22% 0.22%
Trading expense ratio (3) 0.29% 0.30% 0.29% 0.27% 0.27%

TIA!

Q: This is a follow-up question to one I asked a few days ago regarding increasing Int’l exposure to my TFSA. Would the structure of the Global X Corporate class ETFs, eg. HXDM, HXS, HXEM, eliminate the drag of withholding taxes on the portfolio?

Q: Although I realize you are not tax experts, I have a general question about holding ETF’s in an an open account. My understanding is that Canadian-listed ETF’s are exempt from the T1135 filing. So I believe HXDM, even though an International ETF, could be held in a non-registered account without any filing requirement. Is my assumption correct?

On the other hand, any ETF could be held within an RRSP without filing (eg. VWO).

Q: The tax gross-up effect of my Canadian dividend paying stocks is creating an OAS clawback concern in my non-registered account. Looking for tax-efficient US and International ETF’s. I don’t want ex-Canada ones because I want to have the flexibility to adjust weightings between these two.

Would HXS be a good option for US? The MER isn’t the best but maybe okay. I don’t know for the International. Thoughts?

Q: Has Horizon simply changed its name or has it sold to a new company?? The above funds are now called Global X.... If sold, can you please tell me about the new company.
Thanks!

Q: I hold HXDM in my unregistered account (MER: 0.22 + max 0.3 swap fee) and am looking for an international ETF for developed countries (ex. Canada & US), that like HXDM does not include small caps, only medium and large cap stocks. I could use HXDM but fees are high and AUM is only 477M, however, there is no withholding tax with HXDM - your comments appreciated.
Thanks!

Q: MoneySense recommended HXT as one of the best Canadian ETFs for years, but not in 2023. Is there any concerns that the government may crack down on Horizon's Total return funds that do not pay out any dividends?
Thanks!

Q: Hi Peter,
I Would like to expand my question posted earlier. Here is the original, and your reply:

Q: Hi Peter,
I am helping my kids who are in the mid-twenties to invest. The funds will be in RRSP & in TFSA for long term. Would you please recommend a list of ETFs and/or Stocks to invest in for growth. I would like to have the portfolio diversified globally and invested into various sectors.
Thank you,

Asked by Roger on November 08, 2023
5I RESEARCH ANSWER:
We can suggest: CSU, BN, WSP, TFII, ATD, SLF for a conservative mix of stocks from differing sectors. XIC could be a general Canadian ETF, and VFV a US market ETF. We prefer international exposure to be done through an ETF. VIU is an easy solution in our view (it is ex North America).

I have a tax efficiency question. If I am holding VIU in either RRSP or TFSA, would the dividends, even distributed through DRIPs, be subject to an international withholding tax of 15%? If that is the case, do you have another suggestion for investing in an international EFT where dividends are minimized, and the value of the EFT is in growth?

Do you have a suggestion for investing in the emerging market? Again, an EFT with the similar focus on tax efficiency.

Thank you again,

Q: For tax reasons, I want to buy some ETFs or stocks in my unregistered account, that pay little or no dividends. Which of the Horizon's total return ETFs would you recommend at this time? HSAV seems to be really unstable and I am concerned it could be a money loser in the short term. I read in the G & M that the manager of Langsford Wealth Counsel in Oakville has been buying HXDM with better valuation than the US. Thanks!

Q: Good day team,

Please excuse me if this question has been asked before but is there an international focused etf I can contribute to in my tfsa where I don't have to pay withholding taxes? If so, can you list a few please?

Cheers

Q: I have a non-registered account, with 8-10 years before the funds are needed. To minimize tax, we would like focus on 100% capital gains, if possible. Can you recommend some ETFs or individual stocks? We have been looking at Horizon's corporate class ETFs. Thanks for your continued excellent non-biased reports!! Grant

Q: For the purpose of simplicity I would like your opinion on these 3 ETF portfolios.
My idea is to rebalance 1 / year.
non registered: VFV 30% VDU 30% VAB 40%
TFSA: VFV 50% VDU 50%
RRSP: VOO 30% VIG 30% IWO 30% VAB 10%
Any suggestions as to changing the etf's used for better tax purposes ?
Are there better etf's that you would recommend using?
Thanks for your help .
Victoria

Q: What is your opinion on Horizons Total Return Index ETF's in general and the recently added Horizons Intl Developed Markets Index ETF (HXDM).